Pay Rent and Move In

Seeing the four people draw closer, Xu Zhi immediately activated [Eye of Secrets].

In an instant, the fog completely dispersed, and the four figures became perfectly clear in her eyes.

Three men and one woman. Two of the men appeared to be in their forties, while the other man and the woman seemed somewhat younger, perhaps twenty-five or twenty-six.

Besides that, three of the four were Transcendents. Judging by their colors, the woman's attribute was [Mind], while the two men both had [Blade].

The supernatural flames within them were not particularly vivid, and Xu Zhi naturally understood that this reflected the strength of their supernatural abilities.

She had not been able to see such things before, but now she could. It seemed that as she continuously improved her own supernatural abilities, the effects of [Eye of Secrets] would continue to upgrade as well.

Three of the four were Transcendents, and from some of their subtle interactions, they likely knew one another very well.

Were they just lucky?

However, none of the four were dressed particularly cleanly or neatly. After entering the Old Residential District, they cautiously looked around, discussed a few things, and finally chose a building to enter.

Xu Zhi frowned as she watched. "Are they planning to stay here temporarily?"

Their clothing suggested that they probably did not have a fixed residence. Newly awakened Transcendents were not particularly powerful in the early stages. At most, the four of them possessed some passive abilities, which could not help them live well in this increasingly dangerous city.

Or rather, thanks to being a team of four, they had managed to survive while drifting from place to place and eventually reach the Old Residential District.

As for this place, the slightly stronger mutated animals nearby had already been cleared out. Before the three familiars went out each day, they would also conveniently clear away any newly arrived mutated animals nearby. Over time, the area around the Old Residential District had become exceptionally safe, with only weak mutated animals that the familiars could not be bothered with remaining.

Xu Zhi knew that Shen Jinwen hunted those relatively weak mutated animals. It could be said that the Old Residential District was now an excellent place for new Transcendents to slowly level up.

But that comfort was built upon Xu Zhi's tacit permission, and these newly arrived people had clearly not received her "approval." She thought she ought to go negotiate with them.

Xu Zhi did not intend to bluntly drive them away, because what Little One had experienced in the mountains had given her an idea.

If those four wanted to remain in the Old Residential District, of course they could—as long as they handed over cores to her.

But she could not handle this alone. She had to bring Shen Jinwen along and make Shen Jinwen her errand girl. After all, she was quite busy and did not have much time to manage these matters. Wasn't this exactly when companions were meant to be used?

After recalling Xiao Zhen, the fastest of them all, Xu Zhi headed for Shen Jinwen's home.

Shen Jinwen went out almost every morning, and the time she returned was uncertain. Xu Zhi first contacted her through the walkie-talkie to confirm she was home before going upstairs.

After Xu Zhi informed Shen Jinwen that four outsiders had suddenly arrived in the residential complex, Shen Jinwen looked at her and quietly asked, "What do you plan to do?"

Xu Zhi blinked. "Hm? You don't have any plans?"

Shen Jinwen silently looked at her for two seconds, then revealed a helpless smile. "You only need to tell me what I should do."

After spending this time together, she had come to understand what kind of person Xu Zhi was. If Xu Zhi had taken the initiative to find her and mention this matter, it meant Xu Zhi already had her own ideas.

Perhaps those ideas even required Shen Jinwen's cooperation, and all she needed to do was obediently cooperate.

That was not necessarily a bad thing. She was not particularly good at thinking through overly complicated matters anyway, and Xu Zhi was a reliable partner. There was nothing wrong with dividing the work between them.

Shen Jinwen was not stupid. She could sense the changes in the surrounding area before and after Xu Zhi's arrival. In a sense, she had benefited from Xu Zhi's kindness, and naturally kept that in mind.

"Fine."

Seeing that Shen Jinwen would not play along, Xu Zhi could only abandon her spur-of-the-moment teasing and begin discussing business instead.

"I don't mind people staying here, as long as they don't cause trouble and pay a certain number of cores as rent."

Shen Jinwen nodded. She understood.

"Then how much do you plan to charge?"

Xu Zhi had been troubled by that too. If she charged too much, not only might she scare them away, they might not be able to afford it at all. If she charged too little, she would not earn much.

After thinking it over, Xu Zhi decided, "How about this? For now, each person pays one core per week. Pay first, then move in."

"But that's only the temporary price. Once their supernatural levels rise and they can hunt more cores, the price will increase too."

After Xu Zhi finished speaking, Shen Jinwen asked, "How can you ensure they'll agree?"

At that, Xu Zhi smiled and shrugged. "It's voluntary. If they don't agree, they can leave. The cores they pay won't merely buy them the right to live here."

"While their levels are low, this is the safest place and the best place for low-level Transcendents to level up. You should know that."

"And when they grow stronger, gain the ability to protect themselves, learn that they can't leave this city, and understand the dangers within it, they'll realize they stay here not because it's relatively safe, but because I'm here."

It was not this place that was safe, but the area around Xu Zhi. And she herself would become the most powerful Transcendent in the city, the most valuable connection to have.

When Xu Zhi said this, her words brimmed with a confidence and arrogance she had never shown before. Shen Jinwen felt that the girl before her had changed somewhat, though she did not know whether that change was good or bad. In any case, it was not something she could control.

"Alright."

Shen Jinwen nodded.

The apocalypse was already here. The morals and ethics of the past no longer applied, and Xu Zhi was not forcing anyone to buy or sell anything. It was a voluntary transaction, so no one could criticize her.

"Then shall we go now?"

There was some hesitation in Shen Jinwen's voice. After all, there were four people on the other side, and their combat ability was unknown.

Xu Zhi nodded. "Don't worry. My pet will come with us."

Hearing that, Shen Jinwen relaxed.

The moment the two stepped out of the building entrance, a streak of white lightning came racing toward them. As it neared Xu Zhi, it steadily braked, then lightly landed on the girl's shoulder.

Shen Jinwen looked surprised. She likely had not expected Xu Zhi to have another pet, much less such a beautiful Gyrfalcon.

After restraining her fondness for the Gyrfalcon, Shen Jinwen looked at its not particularly large body and asked, "Can it fight four people alone?"

Xu Zhi nodded. "Xiao Zhen won't need three seconds to kill those four."

"That's good."

They entered the building chosen by the four people and, following Xiao Zhen's guidance, arrived outside a room.

Like Xu Zhi, they had probably chosen a room whose door had not been closed.

Xu Zhi stood off to the side, so Shen Jinwen took the initiative to step forward and knock on the door.

There was silence inside for several seconds, then a man's voice rang out. "Who is it?!"

His voice was wary, and he sounded some distance away from the door.

Shen Jinwen went straight to the point. "We're the original residents here, and we're also Transcendents. We'd like to discuss your settling here."